Battery grid



R. M. RAN EY Aug. 23, 1955 INVENTOR. EOBEETM. Pang BYa 2 2 I] M, $9M! Arromveys United States, Patent BATTERY GRID Robert M. Raney, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Electric Storage Battery Company, a corporation of New Jersey App ic t O ober 1 53, e al 86r 04 2 Claims. (Cl. 136-361 The present invention relates to plate grids for Faure type storage batteries.

It is customary in the manufacture of Faure type storage batteries to cast the plate grids in pairs, with the bottom edges of the grids disposed toward each other but separated by a formation which holds the grids together until a predetermined stage in the manufacturing process, at which time the grids are separated by punching out or otherwise removing the formation.

The casting of grids of the type referred to presents unusual problems not encountered in the casting art generally because of the relatively large size of the grids and their unique, lace-like form, which form is dictated by reasons such as material cost, etc. well understood in the art. The mold cavities are, of necessity, extremely small in cross-section and relatively long, thus making the mold cavities extremely ditficult to fill, etc., consistent with present-day requirements of economy and speed.

The object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved grid of the type referred to, so constructed and designed that it will be easier and more economical to manufacture and will be more durable in use than prior grids according to present-day standards and conditions. More specifically the object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved grid of the type referred to having horizontal ribs about one-half the thickness of the grid and located alternately at opposite sides of the center plane of the grid and one or more through ribs; that is, ribs having a thickness approximately equal to that of the grid and extending through the grid from one side to the other, located intermediate the half ribs to provide with through vertical ribs a predetermined pattern of larger mold cavities for facilitating filling of the mold, etc., without materially increasing the amount of grid metal required for a grid of any given size.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a twin grid casting embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the particular grid shown for purposes of illustrating the invention is similar to that shown in U. S. patent to Huntsberger No. 2,378,221, issued June 12, 1945, except for certain difierences hereinafter referred to. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be otherwise embodied and is not limited to the particular grid construction shown.

The grid casting shown, designated by the reference character A, comprises identical, oppositely facing, twin grids 10, 11 having bottom feet 12, 13 and 14, 15 along their lower sides, which sides are joined or connected together by a formation, designated generally as B. Opposite edges orsides of the grids have conventional connecting lugs 16 cast integral therewith.

Each of the grids proper comprises a generally rectangular frame formed by top, bottom and side members 20, 21 22, 23 enclosing seven parallel vertical ribs 24 and a plurality of horizontal ribs 25, 26. The vertical and horizontal ribs appear as horizontal and vertical ribs in the drawing because the grids are cast in the position shown, that is, on their sides. The vertical ribs 24 which appear as horizontal ribs in the drawing are diamondshaped in cross-section, as shown in the drawing, and are arranged symmetrically about the center plane 27 of the grid proper with one diagonal coplanar therewith.

The horizontal ribs 25 which appear as vertical ribs in the drawing are triangular in cross-section with adjoining ribs facing in opposite directions and located at opposite sides of the center plane of the grid proper with the exception of the two horizontal ribs designated 26. The horizontal ribs 25 are approximately one-half the thickness of the grid proper but the two ribs designated 26, like the vertical ribs 24, are about equal in thickness to that of the grid and are called through ribs because they extend through the grid, that is, from one side to the other. These ribs, as shown, are generally diamondshaped in cross-section, and are symmetrical about the center plane of the grid.

Except for the fact that the vertical and horizontal ribs are spaced difierently and that the two horizontal ribs designated 26 are through ribs, that is, approximately twice as large in cross-section and symmetrically arranged with respect to the center plane of the grid, the grids shown herein are like those shown in the aforesaid Huntsberger patent. Reference to Fig. 1 will show that the mold cavities for the through ribs 26 provide enlarged risers in the mold not only intermediate the side risers formed by the cavities in which the top and bottom sides 20, 21 of the grid frame are cast but intermediate the so-called half ribs. These risers facilitate the casting operation, in that they make the mold easier to fill and permitting casting at a lower temperature, with the result that the operation is speeded up, waste reduced and due to the lower casting temperature possible, reduce cracking and checking in the grids. The advantageous results are obtained with minimum additional material cost because the enlarged risers are incorporated in or form a part of the horizontal rib structure of the grid. Obviously the ribs may be of diiferent cross-sectional shape from that shown; for example, round or polygonal, and one or more may be enlarged to provide the enlarged risers of the present invention, as desired, depending upon the grid size and the rib design. The through horizontal ribs are spaced, as needed, depending upon the location of the portions of the mold cavity hardest to fill. In the grid illustrated, the through horizontal ribs are located about one-fourth the height of the grid from the top and bottom.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparent that there has been provided a novel and improved Faure type battery grid of minimum cost consistent with other requirements of present-day production and battery performance and that other desirable objects and advantages have been accomplished. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is intended to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and uses which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A storage battery grid comprising a frame, a plurality of parallel vertical ribs having substantially the thickness of said frame and being arranged symmetrically about the center plane thereof, a first set of parallel horizontal ribs having substantially one-half the thickness of said frame, adjacent n'bs being located on opposite sides of said center plane, and a second set of horizontal ribs comprising at least one rib having substantially the thickness of said frame interspersed between an adjacent pair of said first set of horizontal ribs and being arranged symmetrically about the center plane of the frame.

2. A Faure type battery plate grid comprising a generally rectangular frame, a plurality of parallel vertical ribs extending from the top to the bottom of said frame,

said ribs being generally diamond-shaped in cross-section and arranged symmetrically about'the center plane of'the grid proper with one diagonal coplanar therewith, a plurality of parallel horizontal ribs extending from one side to the other of-s'aid frame, said ribs being generally triangularly-shaped in cross-section with one side copla nar with the center plane of the grid and with adjacent ribs 7 located at opposite sides of said center plane, and one or more horizontal ribs extending from one side to the other of said frame, said last-named ribs being parallel to and interspaced between pairs of said triangularly-shaped ribs and being generally diamond-shaped in cross-section and arranged symmetrically about the center plane of the grid proper with one diagonal. coplanar'therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,566,280 Lormor Dec. 22, 1925 2,378,221 Huntsberger June 12, 1945 2,647,154 Rupp et al July 28, 1953 

